THE FRONT PORCH: AI technology in schools

By Dakota Baker, RealWV

With the new school year already here for some and steadily approaching for others, it seems like a good time to discuss the use of AI technology in schools. 

Is this a technology that can be useful? Or could it have a negative impact on developmental skills? 

Technology has moved to the forefront of education. With middle and high school students receiving Chromebooks — as well as some elementary students — our youth now have access to the many things the internet has to offer, including AI technology. 

Websites such as ChatGPT make writing essays a simple task, allowing users to enter a prompt and have a complete essay written in seconds. 

While schools can use AI detection technology, there are also websites specifically made to humanize AI text so that it becomes undetectable. 

Then there are websites such as Grammarly. The free version simply helps students improve the grammar of an existing piece of text. But the premium version allows access to AI capabilities such as improving paragraphs, AI detection, and more. 

Some schools are even using AI technology to filter out and block harmful content from school-issued devices. In this sense, it could be assumed that schools could do the same and block AI websites.

Schools are supposed to be places of learning,  where students learn how to solve problems, come up with their own ideas, and develop critical thinking skills. When students can write entire essays without conducting any research at the touch of a button, how can they truly absorb information? 

Should schools allow AI technology to be used in the classrooms as a learning tool? Or should AI be completely banned from schools?

Let us know what you think in the comments.